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Kim Ukura

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Kim Ukura has served as the editor of the Morris Sun Tribune since August 2011. She graduated from the University of Minnesota, Morris in 2008 with degrees in English and journalism. She earned a master's degree in journalism from the University of Wisconsin, Madison in 2010. Prior to returning to Morris to work at the Sun Tribune, she worked in trade publishing.

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MORRIS — Senior volunteers Jim and Lou Eystad are the most recent recipients of the Pay it Forward Stevens County award. Jim and Lou were nominated by Anne Hansen, who outlined their many volunteer activities in her nomination letter. The Eystads were surprised with the nomination at the Morris Senior Center on Friday, Dec. 20. "They chose to move back to Donnelly area in early 1990s after retiring from California. They chose to volunteer at all church and community things they noted would make life better — their age and the age of those they help has never mattered.

MORRIS — After hearing concerns from landowners about crop payments on Tuesday, the Stevens County Board of Commissioners delayed giving final approval and setting crop damage payments for an improvement project on County Ditch 30. Assistant Ditch Inspector Daniel Lissick, who oversaw the project, said he thought it was "very successful." "It got done in a timely and efficient manner and it would be great to do more of them," Lissick said. The board was asked to approve crop damage payments for crops on 23 parcels of land that were damaged during construction.

MORRIS — After many delays and much anticipation, Mi Mexico opened quietly in Morris on Monday afternoon. Mi Mexico is owned by Juan and Stephanie Cid, who also own the Mi Mexico restaurant in Benson. Anticipation in the community for the restaurant's opening has been growing for more than a year. The Cids have been trying to open a restaurant in Morris for the last three or four years, but had to wait until a suitable space opened up. However, it took longer than expected to make the necessary cosmetic and structural updates to their space in the City Center Mall.

MORRIS — On Tuesday, the Morris Planning Commission recommended approving a conditional use permit to Derek Gausman to open a K-Bid online auction collection site at the current site of West Central Implement, 1100 Atlantic Avenue. The planning commission made the following recommendations for the conditional use permit: • That the entire property be cleared of junk and debris prior to the start of the collection of any items for an online auction. • That the area be designated on the property where items will be placed for an online auction and that no items will be placed anywhere e

Morris Area High School ag instructor Nick Milbrandt is the most recent recipient of the Pay it Forward Stevens County Award. Milbrandt was surprised with the award at a pep fest at MAHS on Thursday, Dec. 18. The celebration included the "cheer squad" leading a chant for Milbrandt and a song by the Morris Area High School band. Milbrandt was nominated for the award by fellow teacher Peg Rinkenberger, who praised him for the big impact he has had on the community in just a short time. "No matter who seems to need help, Nick tends to show up," Rinkenberger wrote.

MORRIS — Enforcing the city's new snow and ice removal ordinance is proving to be more complicated than anticipated. Since the ordinance officially went into effect on Dec. 1, questions have arisen about what constitutes a cleared sidewalk, how to check whether sidewalks are being cleared, and how to effectively issue tickets for uncleared sidewalks. After the most recent round of mild snowfall, city staff went around to check sidewalks.

MORRIS — Todd Larson has spent his entire life living in west central Minnesota, working in both the public and private sector and farming near Clinton. He brings all of those experiences to the position of Stevens County Engineer, which he was hired for in July. Even as a high school student in Wheaton, Larson knew that he was interested in working in a county engineering department. After graduating from North Dakota State University with a degree in civil engineering, Larson accepted a job in the highway department in Chippewa County.